Flashfloods in Himachal snap road link with Kashmir

Shimla, May 30 (IANS) Flashfloods in the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba district due to thawing of glaciers and incessant rains have snapped road connectivity with neighbouring Jammu and Kashmir, an official said Sunday. There was no report of loss of life.

‘Flashfloods due to melting of glaciers and rains in the past two days have destroyed several roads in Pangi Valley of Chamba district,’ Resident Commissioner Gopal Chand told IANS.

‘Even private property has been washed away,’ he said.

The crucial state highway connecting Killar, the headquarters of Pangi, with Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir has been closed to traffic.

‘The road connectivity between Killar (about 170 km from Chamba) and Kishtwar has been blocked at several points due to massive landslides. One crucial bridge near Dharwas was also washed away Friday night,’ he added.

‘Work to clear the landslides started today (Sunday) but reconstructing the bridge will take more than a month,’ he said.

On the opening of Saach Pass, the gateway to the Pangi Valley from Chamba town, some 450 km from state capital Shimla, the official said: ‘It would be reopened to traffic by mid-June.’

The Saach Pass (4,420 metre/14,500 feet), closed in December last year due to heavy snowfall, is the shortest road link between Chamba and the valley.

The entire picturesque valley has treacherous roads coupled with indifferent climatic conditions. Thousands of adventure lovers visit the valley during summer as it remains cut off from the rest of world for more than six months in a year.